Roof truss forming machine

ABSTRACT

A roof truss forming machine for assembling and nailing with nail plates timbers into a planar roof truss includes a stationary elongated track and a plurality of adjustably positioned support arms extending laterally therefrom and pivotally secured thereto. Each of said support arms having at least one clamping device adjustably positioned thereon each of said clamping devices incorporating a hydraulically operated Cclamp for pressing the nail plates into the timbers supported by the devices.

United States Patent 1 Mort [ Nov. 13, 1973 1 ROOF TRUSS FORMING MACHINE[76] Inventor: Edgar A. Mort, 128 College Ln.,

Youngstown, Ohio 44514 [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 280,661

[52] U.S. Cl 100/100, l00/DIG. 13, 100/193,

100/231, 100/269 R, 227/152 [51] Int. Cl B30b 1/32, B301) 7/00 [58]Field of Search l00/DIG. 13, 100,

100/193, 208, 214, 231, 269 R; 227/152; 269/45, 321 F; 144/288 C; 29/155R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,068,484 12/1962Moehlenpah et al. 227/152 3,069,684 12/1962 Moehlenpah et al. l00/D1G.13 3,255,943 6/1966 Sanford 227/152 3,358,348 12/1967 McGlinchey....

Post 100/269 R X Hutchens 100/231 X Primary Examiner-Harvey C. HornsbyAssistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe AttorneyWebster B. Harpman [57]ABSTRACT A roof truss forming machine for assembling and nailing withnail plates timbers into a planar roof truss includes a stationaryelongated track and a plurality of adjustably positioned support armsextending laterally therefrom and pivotally secured thereto. Each ofsaid support arms having at least one clamping device adjustablypositioned thereon each of said clamping devices incorporating ahydraulically operated C-clamp for pressing the nail plates into thetimbers supported by the devices.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED BUY 13 I975 SHEET 2 UF 2 ROOF TRUSSFORMING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to roof truss forming machines of the type usedfor assembling wood frames such as roof trusses made of wood elementsabutted together and secured by spiked truss connector plates whereinthe components of the machine are movable relative to one another so asto accommodate various sizes and shapes of roof trusses to be formed.

2. Description of the Prior Art Structures of this type have usuallyemployed a stationary elongated rail with a plurality of bridges orsupport arms extending laterally therefrom with the actual clampingdevices located along the rail and on the bridges or support arms. (SeeUS. Pats. Nos. 3,530,790, 3,487,430, 3,255,943, 3,069,684 and 3,068,484.Other prior art devices wherein the clamping stations are independent ofthe base rail construction are illustrated in U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,358,348and 3,487,430. This invention eliminates the problems heretoforeexperienced in adjusting the machine to a particular size and angularconfiguration of a roof truss to be formed by pivoting the support armsto the fixed longitudinal track so as to enable the same to be movedlongitudinally of the track and at the same time moved in an arc basedon their pivotal attachment to the track thus permitting the clampingstations with their hydraulically actuated C- clamps to be positioned inany conceivable configuration in which the wooden members forming theroof truss require attachment to one another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a topplan view of the roof truss forming machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the machineon line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on line 44 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 is avertical section on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In its preferred form the rooftruss forming machine of this invention is comprised of a stationarybase track formed of a pair of l-beams 11 having support bases 12 withadjustment members 13 provided for leveling the same with respect to asupporting surface and as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

By referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that thestationary base track 10 is of a length greater than the span of a trussto be formed thereon,

said truss being indicated in outline in broken lines 14 in FIG. 1. Aplurality of support arms 15 are pivotally attached at their one end,the lower end, as seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings and their left end asseen in FIG. 2 of the drawings by pivots 16 which engage carriages 17which in turn are provided with wheels 18 traveling on the l-beams 11 ofthe base track 10.

By referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be seen thateach of the plurality of support arms 15 extend generallyperpendicularly to the base track 10 and are movable in arcs based onthe pivots 16. The outer ends of each of the support arms 15 areprovided with wheels 19 to facilitate the arcuate movement thereofrelative to their pivotal attachment to the base track 10. In FIG. 5 ofthe drawings, a cross sectional detail of one of the support arms 15 maybe seen together with the representation of the support wheel 19 on theouter end thereof.

In FIG. 4 of the drawings, a cross section taken through the carriage l7and the pivot 16 illustrate the side view of the carriage l7 and itspositioning on the base track 10 and specifically the l-beams 11thereof.

By referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that each ofthe support arms 15 is largely formed ofa pair of secondary l-beams 20the upper surfaces of which are flat as also seen in FIG. 2 of thedrawings and by referring thereto it will be observed that anadjustable, slidable secondary carriage 21 is positioned thereon forlongitudinal movement with respect thereto. The secondary carriage 21has a rotatable base plate 22 thereon which in turn supports a clampingstation which includes a vertical support structure 23 and ahydraulically actuated C-clamp 24. The vertical support structure 22includes a horizontal surface 25 on which the timbers being formed intoa planar roof truss are positioned. It will occur to those skilled inthe art that various configurations of C- clamps may be employed withthe present invention and that a plurality of such C-clamps as shown indetail in FIG. 2 of the drawings are necessary as seen in FIG. 1 of thedrawings wherein a pair of the clamping stations incorporating theC-clamps 24 are positioned on each of the support arms 15 with theexception of the endmost support arms wherein only one of the C- clamps24 is necessary.

By referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that thebroken line representation of the outline of a wooden truss 14 shows thesame positioned on the horizontal supports 25 of each of the clampingstations and between the jaws of the hydraulically actuated C- clamps 24and it will further be seen by reason of the adjustability of thepositions of the support arms 15 the clamping stations with theirC-clamps 24 may be quickly and easily positioned to join the ends of theweb members, not shown, to the straight and angular portions of the rooftruss being formed. Thus as many web members positioned at whateverangle is desired or perpendicularly with respect to anyone of thetimbers of the truss being formed may be employed and fastened at theirend sections to the truss members by the easy and convenient location ofthe clamping stations made possible by the adjustability of the supportarms which carry the same and the fact that each of the clampingstations is rotatable with respect thereto.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the hydraulic C-clampsreferred to herein and indicated by the numerals 24 are actuallyC-shaped jaws movable hydraulically with respect to the horizontalsurfaces 25 of the support structures 23 of the clamping stations. In apreferred form of the invention the C-shaped clamping arms 24 of theC-clamps and the horizontal support surfaces 25 or movable portionsthereof are movable vertically toward and away from one another. In thepreferred form of the invention a remote source of hydraulic fluid underpressure and conduits for conveying the same along the base track andoutwardly of each of the support arms will be necessary and in FIG. 2 ofthe drawings several such tubular conduits are illus trated andgenerally indicated by the'numerals 26.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A roof truss forming machine for assembling and nailing with nailplates timbers into a planar roof truss comprising a stationary basetrack, a plurality of carriages arranged for movement along said basetrack and a plurality of support arms each of which is pivoted at one ofits ends to one of said carriages and positioned laterally with respectthereto and to said base track, wheels on the other end of each of saidsupport arms, a plurality of secondary carriages positioned on saidsupport arms and movable longitudinally thereof, clamping stationsadjustably positioned one on each of said secondary carriages, saidclamping stations including hydraulically actuated C-clamps and meansfor supporting said timbers in operative relation thereto and a sourceof hydraulic pressure for actuating said hydraulic C-clamps.

2. A roof truss forming machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said basetrack comprises'a pair of spaced, parallel elongated members, meansinterconnecting said members for maintaining said parallel relationshipthereof and adjustment means acting to level said base track.

3. A roof truss forming machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein wheelsare provided on said plurality of carriages arranged for movement alongsaid base track and means on said carriages engages said base track tomaintain said carriages in position thereon.

4. A roof truss forming machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein pivotmeans engaging said first mentioned carriages and said support arms isarranged to be secured in rotatable and fixed position.

5. A roof truss forming machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein swivelplates are mounted on said first mentioned carriages and said supportarms are engaged on said swivel plates.

6. A roof truss forming machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein eachof said support arms has a pair of elongated members positioned inspaced parallel relation and wherein said secondary carriages arepositioned on said elongated members.

7. A roof truss forming machine as defined in claim 1 and whereinsecondary swivel plates are positioned on each of said secondarycarriages and said clamping stations are mounted on said secondaryswivel plates and means is provided for securing said secondary swivelplates to said carriages in rotatable and fixed relation.

1. A roof truss forming machine for assembling and nailing with nailplates timbers into a planar roof truss comprising a stationary basetrack, a plurality of carriages arranged for movement along said basetrack and a plurality of support arms each of which is pivoted at one ofits ends to one of said carriages and positioned laterally with respectthereto and to said base track, wheels on the other end of each of saidsupport arms, a plurality of secondary carriages positioned on saidsupport arms and movable longitudinally thereof, clamping stationsadjustably positioned one on each of said secondary carriages, saidclamping stations including hydraulically actuated C-clamps and meansfor supporting said timbers in operative relation thereto and a sourceof hydraulic pressure for actuating said hydraulic C-clamps.
 2. A rooftruss forming machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said base trackcomprises a pair of spaced, parallel elongated members, meansinterconnecting said members for maintaining said parallel relationshipthereof and adjustment means acting to level said base track.
 3. A rooftruss forming machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein wheels areprovided on said plurality of carriages arranged for movement along saidbase track and means on said carriages engages said base track tomaintain said carriages in position thereon.
 4. A roof truss formingmachine as defined in claim 1 and wherein pivot means engaging saidfirst mentioned carriages and said support arms is arranged to besecured in rotatable and fixed position.
 5. A roof truss forming machineas defined in claim 1 and wherein swivel plates are mounted on saidfirst mentioned carriages and said support arms are engaged on saidswivel plates.
 6. A roof truss forming machine as defined in claim 1 andwherein each of said support arms has a pair of elongated memberspositioned in spaced parallel relation and wherein said secondarycarriages are positioned on said elongated members.
 7. A roof trussforming machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein secondary swivelplates are positioned on each of said secondary carriages and saidclamping stations are mounted on said secondary swivel plates and meansis provided for securing said secondary swivel plates to said carriagesin rotatable and fixed relation.